What does the surname Lowe mean?
+
Chiefly locational, from Old English hlaw, a hill, mound or ancient burial-tumulus, so 'dweller by the low', the many Lowe and Low hamlets scattered through Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. A second strand is a pet-form of Lawrence (Lowe being a clipped Law-rence), and a third a nickname from Old French lou, the wolf. Context and parish sort the three. The hlaw element is some of the oldest landscape vocabulary in England, the word for the grassy barrows that dot the Peak and the Cheshire plain, and the surname clung to the families who farmed beside them.
Where does the Lowe family come from?
+
The Lowe family is rooted in North West, East Midlands and West Midlands, in England. Within that, the name was particularly concentrated in Cheshire, Derbyshire & the Peak, Staffordshire and Shropshire. The atlas page for the name records the historical territory it has held over the centuries.
Where did the Lowe family historically hold territory?
+
At its greatest historical extent, the Lowe name has been concentrated in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Worcestershire & Herefordshire and Birmingham & the Black Country. The atlas page distinguishes the core territory of the name from this wider historical reach with hatched silhouettes on the map.
Is Lowe a England surname?
+
Yes, Lowe is a England surname. Its editorial home in this atlas is England, where the historical territory and family record of the name are concentrated.
How old is the Lowe surname?
+
The hlaw element is some of the oldest landscape vocabulary in England, the word for the grassy barrows that dot the Peak and the Cheshire plain, and the surname clung to the families who farmed beside them. European hereditary surnames crystallised broadly between the 12th and 14th centuries, and the Lowe name took its modern form within that long settlement.
What is the Lowe family known for?
+
Dweller by the mound, a Marches hill-name. The hlaw element is some of the oldest landscape vocabulary in England, the word for the grassy barrows that dot the Peak and the Cheshire plain, and the surname clung to the families who farmed beside them.
Who is the most famous Lowe?
+
The best-known bearer of the Lowe name is Arthur Lowe (1915–1982), actor (Dad's Army). Other prominent figures of the family include Rob Lowe (b. 1964), American actor and Daisy Lowe (b. 1989), model and broadcaster.
Who are some famous Lowes?
+
Notable bearers of the Lowe name include Arthur Lowe (1915–1982), actor (Dad's Army), Rob Lowe (b. 1964), American actor and Daisy Lowe (b. 1989), model and broadcaster. Each is profiled on the family page, with cross-links to the geography, stories, and historical events tied to their life.
Is Low the same family as Lowe?
+
Yes. Low is a historical spelling variant of the Lowe name. The two share the same lineage and family affiliation; different parishes, clerks and migration registrars recorded the same name in slightly different forms, and the variant spellings sit on the same family tree.
Is Lowes the same family as Lowe?
+
Yes. Lowes is a historical spelling variant of the Lowe name. The two share the same lineage and family affiliation; different parishes, clerks and migration registrars recorded the same name in slightly different forms, and the variant spellings sit on the same family tree.
Where is the Lowe surname found today?
+
England is the primary historical home of the Lowe surname. In the modern era, the name is also borne across the wider diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where families carry the line of descent from the same England origin recorded on this page.
What does the Clan Rising page for the Lowe family cover?
+
The Clan Rising page for the Lowe family covers the meaning of the surname, the historical geography of the name, famous bearers of the name and the seat of the head of the family. Each section is linked to the underlying atlas of England so the name can be read in the geography that shaped it.
Who is the head of the Lowe family today?
+
The seat for the head of the Lowe family is currently vacant on this register. Clan Rising is rebuilding the chief and family structure for the modern era, and the family page allows readers to claim the seat or pledge to the name.